Wig stand

ABSTRACT

A display and storage apparatus for wigs and other false hairpieces includes a vertically extensible and adjustable support member having a plurality of apertures disposed therealong. The apparatus further includes at least one support arm. The arm which has one end thereof adapted to be lockingly received within one of the apertures, extends radially outwardly from the support member and has a projection formed at its other end. The projection is snugly nested within projection receiving means formed in the base of a separable hairpiece storage dome.

United States Patent [191 Pabis June 28, 1974 WIG STAND 3,740,013 6/1973 Bentley et a1 223/66X a 3 a i [76] InvemOr 5:22 2}? 2 Kennebec Pr1mal3 'Eram1nerGeo. V. Larkm Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Weiner, Basile and [22] Filed: Apr. 27, 1973 weintraub [21] Appl. No: 355,028

r [57] ABSTRACT 52 us. Cl 223/66,21 1/13, 211/86, A display and Storage apparatus for Wigs and other 269/321 W W false hairpieces includes a vertically extensible and ad- 51 Im. c1. D066 15/00 Jumble PP member having a plurality of aper- [58] Field of Search 223/66; 211/86 30, 33, tures disposed therealong. The apparatus further in- 211/13, 269/32] W W; 248/38, 177 178, cludes at least one support arm. The arm which has 186, 187, 121 125 one end thereof adapted to be lockingly received within one of the apertures, extends radially outwardly 56] References Cited from the support member and has a projection formed UNITED STATES PATENTS at its other end. The projection is snugly nested within projection receiving means formed in the base of a 3,362,769 l/l968 Shiffman 248/178 X separable hairpiec6 storage dome 3,658,174 4/1972 Friedman 223/66 X 3,739,919 6/1973 Hochman 211/57 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Z if WIG STAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to display and storage apparatus. More particularly the present invention relates to display and storage apparatus for wigs and other false hairpieces. Even more particularly the present invention relates to apparatus for displaying and storing wigs and other false hairpieces which includes separable members adapted to release any storage means for individual usage.

2. Prior Art In recent years there has been developed an expanded market for the use of false hairpieces such as wigs, falls, toupees, and the like for both cosmetic and aesthetic purposes. Today, it is not an uncommon situation for a person to own or possess a plurality of such false hair-pieces.

Yet, there has not been developed heretofore a convenient device for ready storage of these hairpieces. When purchased the hairpieces are normally placed in boxes and they remain there until ready for use. When a user owns a plurality of hairpieces the plurality of storage boxes therefor leads to a cluttering and state of disarray in closets, on dressers and wherever the storage boxes are placed.

Still another concommitant problem is encountered in stores which sell false hairpieces. Generally, for sales purposes and promotion the false hairpieces are displayed openly. Thus, they are susceptible to dust and dirt collection and the like thereby somewhat diminishing their aesthetic appeal and appearance. Moreover, the hairpieces are conventionally displayed individually thereby diminishing counter space and reducing the number of hairpieces which can be displayed at any one time.

The present invention, as will subsequently become apparent, provides a device which can be deployed either in ahome or in a store which obviates the problems hereinbefore discussed. The present device enables the display and/or storage of a plurality of hairpieces in a relatively minimalarea while keeping the hairpieces in an enclosed state. Furthermore, the construction of the present device enables easy transportability of any individual hairpiece.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is pro vided an apparatus or device for displaying and storing false hairpieces, such as wigs, falls, toupees, and the like. The device hereof generally comprises a vertically disposed adjustable elongate tubular support member having a plurality 'of apertures disposed therealong. A locking or support arm has one endthereof adapted to be received and lockingly retained in any one of the apertures provided along the support arm. The locking arm, which extends radially outwardly from the support member, has a projection formed at its other or free end. I

The projection is adapted to'be nestingly and snugly retained within a recess formed in the base of a hairpiece dome or enclosure. I

The hairpiece dome comprises separable members which can be locked together and released from the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially broken of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hairpiece domeemployed in the practice of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a hairpiece dome and part of a locking arm employed in the practtice of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of part of a hairpiece.

dome taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a hairpiece dome employed in the practice of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Now with reference to the drawing, and in particular FIG. 1, it is seen that the present invention, generally indicated as 10, includes a support member 12, at least one locking or support arm 14 which is supported at one end 16 thereof by the member 12, and at least one hairpiece dome or enclosure 18, which is supported by the arm 14 at its free or other end 20.

I With more particularity and still. referring to FIG. 1, the member 12 generally comprises a vertically extending and adjustable tubular member 22 which is adapted to be securely disposed between an upper ceiling support 24 and a ground support 26. The tubular member 22 has a pair of legs 28 and 30, respectively. Generally, one of the legs is normally urged outwardly from the member 22 by biassing means, such as a spring 32 in a manner well known. However both legs can be similarly constructed and similarly biased. I

Disc members 34 and 36 are provided on the free ends of the legs 28 and 30. The disc members engage the support surfaces 24, 26 to securely retain the support member 12 in itsvertically extended position by virtue of the action of the biasing means 32.

The construction of the type of biased vertical support member 12 contemplated for use herein is evidenced in the prior art. See, inter alia, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,161,264; 3,035,708 and 3,018,898.

The tubular member 22 is provided with a plurality of apertures 38 disposed circumferentially thereabout along its vertical axis. The apertures 38 open into the interior of the support member 12 and each one acts to receive and retain therewithin a first end 16 of a support arm 14.

The support arm 14, as contemplated herein, extends radially outwardly from the member 12 and is supported at one end 16 thereof by the support member 12. The other end 20 of the am 14 supports the hairpiece dome 18.

The end 16 of the arm 14 can be provided with any suitable configuration which permits its secure retention in an aperture 38, when in use. Thus, for example, the end 16 can be provided with an arcuate portion 40 and downwardly depending leg 42 integrally formed therewith which would be hingedly retained within the aperture (FIG. 3). To securely retain the arm 14 in an aperture 38 the leg 42 would be inserted into the aperture. After insertion the arm would then be rotatable upwardly such that the arcuate portion 40 of the arm 14 would seat on the edge of the opening or aperture 38.

It is to be understood, however, that any suitable configuration can be provided to the end 16 which would achieve detachable or seperable retention of the arm 14 in the aperture 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the other or free end of the arm 14 is adapted to support the hairpiece dome 18. The free end 20 includes an upwardly directed arcuate portion 44 integrally formed therewith and a projection 46 integrally formed with the arcuate portion 44. The projection 46 is adapted to matingly engage and snugly nest with a complementary configured recess 48 (FIG.6) formed on the hairpiece dome 18. Thus, the projection defines means for supporting the dome 18 on the arm 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the projection 46 has a substantially pyramidal configuration.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-6, the present invention further includes the hairpiece dome 18. The dome 18 generally comprises a pair of separable upper and lower sections 50 and 52, respectively, which can be united to form a substantially unitary member 54.

The upper section 50 generally comprises a truncated conical section having a substantially flat upper rim 56, a substantially circular lower rim 58, and an arcuate peripheral wall 60.

An inner edge 62 of the rim 56 has a downwardly depending sidewall 64 integrally formed therewith. The sidewall 64 is substantially circular in form.

The base 66 is integrally formed with the loweredge 68 of the sidewall 64. The base 66 is, thus, vertically axially displaced from the rim 56 and extends in a substantially horizontal plane. The downwardly depending sidewall 64 and the base 66 cooperate to define a recess 70 in the upper portion of the section 50.

A grasping means, such as a handle 72, is disposed in therecess 70, and may be integrally formed with the base and sidewall.

The handle 72 has a vertical height substantially equal to the height of the sidewall 64, such that, the upper surface of the handle and rim 56 are substantially coplanar.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an annular downwardly depending wall 74 is integrally formed with the lower rim 58 of the upper section 50. The wall 74 is concentric with the peripheral wall 60. As will be subsequently detailed the rim 58 and wall 74 cooperate with means provided on the lower section 52 to interlock the two sections together to form the unitary member having an open interior.

The lower section 52 is a substantially open-topped dish shaped member having a substantially flat bottom wall 76 and an arcuate peripheral wall 78 integrally formed with the wall 76.

The peripheral wall 78 terminates at upper rim 80. A shoulder 82 is provided on the interior side of the wall 78 proximate the upper rim 80.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface 84 of the shoulder 82 acts a seat for the lower edge of the annular wall 74. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, the peripheral walls 60, 78, the rims 58, 80, and the annular wall 74 and shoulder 82 are dimensioned such that the length of the wall 74 is substantially equal to the distance between the upper surface 84 of the shoulder 82 and the upper edge of the rim 80. Furthermore. the width of the wall 74 is substantially equal to the width of the surface 84. In this manner the outer surface of the wall 74 frictionally engages the interior surface of the wall 78 while the lower edge of the wall 74 snugly abuts the surface 84 of the shoulder 82.

Concurrently the surface of the rim 58 abuts the surface of the rim 80. By providing substantially equal widths to the peripheral walls 60 and 78, a secure frictional interlocking of the upper and lower sections 50 and 52, respectively, of the dome 18 is achieved.

Although interlocking of the two sections has been shown as frictionally achieved it is apparent other modes of interlocking through snaps, hinges, and the like will work equally well and these other means are within the scope hereof.

As noted above, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bottom wall 76 of the lower section 50 has a recess 48 formed therein. The recess 48 is preferably centrally disposed to provide equilibrium to the dome 18 when it is mounted on the projection 46.

The recess 48 is complementary configured to the projection 46 and is slightly larger than the projection. In this manner, the recess snugly receives the projection to provide a tight and secure frictional engagement therebetween. The recess 48 is, preferably, integrally formed in the bottom wall 76.

The present invention further contemplates a plurality of upwardly directed rigid spines 86 disposed on the interior surface 88 of the bottom wall 76. The spines 86 cooperate with the interior walls 90 of the recess 48 to define means for supporting a hairpiece form (not shown).

As is known to those skilled in the art conventionally a hairpiece is stored on a foamed polystyrene or similar plastic mannequin head form. By piercing the form with the spines and interior walls of the recess a support for the form is thus provided.

In the practice of the present invention it is preferred that the dome 18 be molded from a clear or translucent lightweight synthetic plaster resinous material. This promotes the displaying of a hairpiece stored within the dome while imparting little weight to be supported by the locking arm.

In use, a locking arm is disposed in any suitable aperture on the support member. Thereafter, the dome is mounted on the projection to provide a convenient storage and display apparatus.

It is also apparent that by lifting the dome off of the projection, the dome can be used to transport a hairpiece stored therewithinbecause of the engagement between the sections thereof. Furthermore, it is apparent that easy access to any hairpiece stored within a dome is provided by merely separating the upper section of the dome from the lower section. Thus, a hairpiece can be removed while the lower section remains stationary on the locking arm.

Having thus described my invention what is claimed l. A display and storage apparatus for a hairpiece comprising in combination:

a. a vertically extensible support member, having at least one aperture disposed therealong and opening into the interior thereof,

b. a locking arm extending radially outwardly from the support member, the locking ann including means for lockingly receiving the arm in the aperture at one end of the arm,

c. a projection provided on the other end of the arm,

d. a hairpiece dome for storing a hairpiece therewithin, the hairpiece dome includingmeans for supporting the dome on'the locking arm.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for supporting the dome comprises a recess formed in the dome, the recess being complementary configured to the projection and adapted to detachably receive the projection therewithin.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dome comprises separable upper and lower sections, the sections having means interlockingly the sections together.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dome further includes means for supporting a hairpiece form.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes means for grasping the dome.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support member includes a pair of legs extending vertically therefrom, at least one of the legs having biassing means associated therewith for adjustably disposing the support member between an upper support surface and a lower support surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dome comprises separable upper and lower sections and wherein the means for supporting the dome on the locking arm is provided on the lower section.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for supporting the dome comprises a recess formed in the lower section of the dome, the recess being complea mentary configured to the projection and adapted to detachably receive the projection therewithin. 

1. A display and storage apparatus for a hairpiece comprising in combination: a. a vertically extensible support member, having at least one aperture disposed therealong and opening into the interior thereof, b. a locking arm extending radially outwardly from the support member, the locking arm including means for lockingly receiving the arm in the aperture at one end of the arm, c. a projection provided on the other end of the arm, d. a hairpiece dome for storing a hairpiece therewithin, the hairpiece dome including means for supporting the dome on the locking arm.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for supporting the dome comprises a recess formed in the dome, the recess being complementary configured to the projection and adapted to detachably receive the projection therewithin.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dome comprises separable upper and lower sections, the sections having means interlockingly the sections together.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dome further includes means for supporting a hairpiece form.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes means for grasping the dome.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support member includes a pair of legs extending vertically therefrom, at least one of the legs having biassing means associated therewith for adjustably disposing the support member between an upper support surface and a lower support surface.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dome comprises separable upper and lower sections and wherein the means for supporting the dome on the locking arm is provided on the lower section.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for supporting the dome comprises a recess formed in the lower section of the dome, the recess being complementary configured to the projection and adapted to detachably receive the projection therewithin. 